Snap switch



y 0, 1938. G. A. JOHNSON 2,117,172

SNAP SWITCH Filed Aug. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INSULATION INVENTOR GEORGE A JOHNSON BY HIS ATTORNEYS MMM 1938. G. A. JOHNSON 2,117,172

SNAP SWITCH Filed Aug. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22o 220 i, if 260 Him INSULATION INVENTOR GEORGE A. JOHNSON BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNAP SWITCH Application August 2, 1935, Serial No. 34,485

3 Claims.

This invention relates to snap switches. More particularly it relates to lever operated snap switches which are capable of movement into two or more working positions. Many multi-position snap switches operated by levers are known in the art but they have relatively complicated operating mechanisms made up of a relatively large number of parts.

It is an object of my invention to make a multiposition snap switch having a relatively small number of parts, many of which may be formed economically of sheet metal or sheet insulation.

Another object 01 my invention is to provide a snap switch which has a small number of operating parts and which is simple and positive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a switch embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view partly in section and with one of the mounting plates or the switch removed to show the interior parts. In this figure the parts are shown at rest.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in the position just prior to the snapping to a new position.

Figure 4 is an end section view with the section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a second form of switch embodying the principles of my invention. Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the switch shown in Figure 5 but with one of the mounting plates removed to show the interior parts. In this view the parts are shown at rest.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the parts under tension in position just prior to snapping to a new position.

Figure 8 in an end section view 01' the switch shown in Figures 5 to 7 with the section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the switching member used in the form oi invention shown in Figures 5-8.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, it will be noted 0 that the switch parts are mounted between a pair of parallel rectangular plates Ill and I2 which may be stamped from sheet insulation. These plates are-spaced apart by four sleeves l4 each positioned adjacent a corner of the plates. The

55 plates are secured in spaced relation by screws is passing through them and through the sleeves H.

The switching mechanism is located between these insulating plates ill and I2. The mechanism is operated by a manual operator in the 5 form of a fabricated operating lever, designated generally in Figure 1 by the numeral 20, comprising a post or handle portion 22 of insulating material and a U-shaped yoke, designated generally by the numeral 24 in Figure 2, stamped from sheet metal. The ends of the side arms 24a and 24b are spaced to lie against the side faces of the handle portion 22 and also to rub over the inner faces of the insulating plates 18 and i2 as the operating lever is manually moved. The operating lever 20 is pivoted upon a pin 26 passing through the top portions of the insulating plates I8 and I2 and through the side arms 24a and 24b of the yoke portion 24 and also through a channel or passage in the lower or inner end of the handle portion 22.

The side arms 24a and 24b of the operating lever are preferably oflfset as at 25 toward each other to provide clearance between the innermost portion of the yoke and the inner faces 01' the plates I8 and I2;

Mounted upon the yoke 24 is a switching member stamped from sheet metal into U-shape and having legs 88a and 38b extending in the opposite direction from the arms 24a and 24b. The transverse portion 380 of the switching member passes through a pair of registering apertures 24d in the central portion of the side arms 24a and 24b of the operating lever. The inner surface of the transverse portion 300 normally rests upon the flat edges of the apertures 24d which preferably are parallel to the transverse portion 24c oi the operating yoke. A tension spring 86 has one end anchored in the transverse portion 240 and the other end anchored in the transverse portion 800 to hold the yoke 24 and the switching member together.

In the switch illustrated the three pairs of stationary contacts 40, 42 and 44, 48 and 48, are provided located at spaced intervals on the arc of a circle whose center is the pivot pin 28 of the operating lever. The stationary contacts 48, 44 and 48 are located on the insulating plate l8 and the contacts 42, 46 and 50 are located upon the insulating plate l2 directly beneath and in alignment with the contacts 44, 48 respectively. These stationary contacts comprise T-shaped pieces of metal whose legs extend through the insulating plates and whose cross parts lie against the inside surface of the plates. Wire terminals such as 4i,

45, 41, 49, and ii may be secured to the stationary contacts and against the outside surfaces of the insulating plates in any suitable fashion such as by providing rectangular, apertures in the ends of the wire terminal plates through which the legs of the stationary contacts may extend and be peened over. The inner portions of the sta-- tionary contacts, which project above the inner surface of the insulating plates, form stops as will be apparent as the invention is further described.

The end portions of the switching member are adapted to enga e with the pairs of stationary contacts to bridge each pair as may be clearly seen from Figure 4. These end portions are each provided with an extending contact finger "d which is adapted to slide over the top or surface of the stationary contacts during movement of the switch from one position to another. Parts of the side portions of the ends of the legs 30a and 30b adjacent the fingers 30d are struck laterally and outwardly to form inclined abutments 30a and 30h which in position of rest, as shown in Figure 2, rest against the side faces of the stationary contacts, thus holding the switching member from lateral movement. The inclined surfaces of the abutments make possible and facilitate their coming into engagement with the stationary contacts.

From the foregoing description the operation of the switch may be ascertained. -When the handle portion 22 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the engagement of the abutments "g with the side of the stationary contact 46 will prevent the switching member from immediately following 'the movement of the operating lever 20 and thus the spring 38 will be tensioned as the operating lever 20 presses against the cross part 306 of the switching member and tends to move the switching member toward the stationary contact 42. This tendency causes the switching member to move substantially longitudinally and causes the contact finger 30d to wipe over the top surface of the stationary contact 46 and also causes the abutments 30g and h to move to the inner edge of the stationary contact 46. When these abutments reach this edge the switching member is relieved of the restraining influence of the stationary contact and the spring 36 will then cause the switching member to pivot about the left hand corner of the aperture 25d at the point where the transverse portion 30c engages .with the edge of the aperture and thus cause the switching member to engage with the stationary contact 42 in the same manner as it previously engaged with the contact 46. This engagement will take place with a snap motion.

It will be obvious that upon reversing the movement of the handle, the switching member can be caused to disengage the stationary contact 42 with a snap motion and reengage with the stationary contact 46. Likewise the switch== ing member may be caused to engage and disengage the stationary contact 50 with a snap motion.

If desired the end of one of the legs 30a and "b may be left plain and the contact finger and abutments 30d, 309', "h may be formed only on the other leg.

In Figures 5 to 8 inclusive I have shown a modified form of switch, the operation of which is in principle the same as in that of the form previously described. The mounting plates and the switch contacts are substantially the same as was previously decribed and the switching member may be substantially the same as that previously described.

The form shown in Figures 5 to 8 differs from the previously described form in the construction of the operating lever 220 which is pivoted between the insulating plates by a pivot pin 2". The lower or inner end of the operating member 220 is of lesser thickness than the handle portion and has a central aperture 240 in which is seated a compression spring 360 which bears at its upper end against the top of the aperture and at its lower end against the transverse portion "I of the switching member thus pressing that portion against the lower edge of the aperture 240. A nub Hi my be formed in the upper surface of the aperture 240 and portions of the metal 223 may be struck up from the central part of the transverse portion "I to hold the ends of the spring in their position of engagement with the operating lever 220 and the switching member. I have found that by forming lateral extensions 302 on the transverse portion "I and depressing them intorecesses 2 in the lower corners of the aperture 240 that a more positive operation of the switch may be had as it is moved from one position to another. This may be observed by inspection of Figure 7 wherein it will be seen that the left hand extension 302 is affording a pivot for the switching member as the switching member is preparing to move into engagement with the stationary con tact 42B and to disengage the stationary contact 480.

The form of the ends of the switching member is the same as in the form shown in Figures 1-4, and like reference numerals are applied to like parts. I

Both forms .of the switches just described are very simple to assemble since the operating parts, that is to say the operating lever, 22, the switching member, the spring 36, and the like parts in the second modification, that is operating lever 220, the switching member and the spring 860 may be assembled separately from the insulating plates and stationary contacts and may he slipped between the insulating plates very easily. This ease in assembly makes for economy in the manufacture of the switch.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a reversible snap switch which is capable of movement into a plurality of working positions so that it may control one, two or more circuits and in fact the number of circuits controlled may be increased by increasing the number of pairs of stationary contacts.

Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore I do not limit myself to the specific forms described.

I claim:----

'1. In a snap switch, pivotally mounted insulated manual operating means having a recess therein, a U-shaped. switching member mounted on said operating means in said recess, spring means pressing said switching member into engagement with said operating means, means on the ends of said switching member forming a resilient contact finger and lateral abutments, stop means engaged by said ends, said switching member moving substantially longitudinally as said operating means is actuated and then moving laterally to disengage from said stop means whereby said disengagement is accomplished with a snap motion.

2. In a snap switch, pivotally mounted insulated manual operating means constructed and arranged for operation in clockwise or counterclockwise direction and having a recess therein, a U-shaped switching member mounted on said operating means in said recess, spring means pressing said switching member into engagement with said operating means, means on the ends of said switching member forming a resilient contact finger and lateral abutments, stop means engaged by said ends, said switching member moving substantially longitudinally as said operating means is actuated and then moving laterally to disengage from said stop means whereby said disengagement is accomplished with a snap motion.

3. In a snap switch, an insulating plate, stop means mounted on said plate in spaced positions, a pivotally mounted operating lever, a switching member mounted on said operating lever, spring means pressing said lever and member into engagement, an end of said switching member forming abutments engaging said stop means, means causing said switching member to press resiliently against said stop means in a direction normal to its direction oi movement, said operating lever and switching member and spring means being constructed and arranged to cause said switching member to move substantially longitudinally and then laterally under the influence of said operating lever and spring means to disengage a given one of said stop means and to move into engagement with other of said stop means with a snap motion, said end while so moving being free of engagement with any fixed part of said switch.

GEORGE A. JOHNSpN. 

